Facts

College World Series Flance

Before boarding the team bus Thursday, the sophomore pitcher was asked if he'd considered the possibility of the same thing happening next week at the College World Series.

Clearly, he hadn't.

“Just thinking about it gives me chill bumps,” the Ashley High School graduate said, holding out his right arm to show the inquiring reporter. “That would be almost too good to be true.”

Regardless of how things turn out for the top-seeded Tar Heels, simply getting to Omaha to play on the college game's biggest stage is an experience Kelley will never forget.

Unlike many of his older teammates, who were part of UNC's run of five CWS appearances in six years from 2006-2011, Kelley is a rookie when it comes to the double-elimination national championship tournament.

“I'm kind of mind-blown right now,” he said. “I'm almost still in shock about it.”

That doesn't mean he's unfamiliar with either the format or the venue.

“This is a dream come true,” he said. “I fell in love with UNC watching it at the College World Series when I was in middle school. Now I'm getting ready to play for them in it. It's a great opportunity.”

Kelley figures to play a major role for the Tar Heels, but what that role turns out to be is anybody's guess. He's filled a number of them this season while leading the team with 30 appearances.

The side-arming right-hander has been a long man, a setup man, a situational reliever asked to come in and retire just one batter and even a closer as he was in the ACC final while compiling a 2-1 record with two saves, 36 strikeouts and a 3.50 earned run average in more than 42 innings.

However he's used, Kelley said he likes his team's chances despite a less-than-dominant performance thus far in the postseason.

“It comes down to character,” he said. “We've got each other's backs and never back down from anyone. We'll stay in every pitch it until the last inning, the last out. I feel like the regionals and super regional kind of woke us up and our best is yet to come.”

One thing UNC won't have to worry about is facing an unfamiliar opponent in its opener. The Tar Heels will take on rival N.C. State Sunday at 3 p.m.

“Playing N.C. State puts us ahead of the game, because we don't have to do any scouting on them,” Kelley said. “We're going in there with confidence, having beaten them two times already this year.”

One of those wins, however, was an 18-innning marathon in what turned out to be the ACC tournament semifinal. A week later, the Tar Heels also had to survive a 13-inning test against Florida Atlantic just to get out of the regionals.

That game became necessary after Kelley allowed a decisive three-run homer to the Owls' Ricky Santiago.

As disappointing as that was, it was only a temporary setback for both UNC and a resilient reliever looking forward to getting the ball again in a big situation.

“I'm locked in and very confident right now,” Kelley said. “Against FAU, I hung one. But I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen in Omaha.”

<p>CHAPEL HILL | Trevor Kelley was on the mound for the final out of last month's ACC baseball tournament, earning the save in North Carolina's 4-1 championship-clinching victory against Virginia Tech.</p><p>Before boarding the team bus Thursday, the sophomore pitcher was asked if he'd considered the possibility of the same thing happening next week at the College World Series.</p><p>Clearly, he hadn't.</p><p>“Just thinking about it gives me chill bumps,” the Ashley High School graduate said, holding out his right arm to show the inquiring reporter. “That would be almost too good to be true.”</p><p>Regardless of how things turn out for the top-seeded Tar Heels, simply getting to Omaha to play on the college game's biggest stage is an experience Kelley will never forget.</p><p>Unlike many of his older teammates, who were part of UNC's run of five CWS appearances in six years from 2006-2011, Kelley is a rookie when it comes to the double-elimination national championship tournament.</p><p>“I'm kind of mind-blown right now,” he said. “I'm almost still in shock about it.”</p><p>That doesn't mean he's unfamiliar with either the format or the venue. </p><p>“This is a dream come true,” he said. “I fell in love with UNC watching it at the College World Series when I was in middle school. Now I'm getting ready to play for them in it. It's a great opportunity.”</p><p>Kelley figures to play a major role for the Tar Heels, but what that role turns out to be is anybody's guess. He's filled a number of them this season while leading the team with 30 appearances. </p><p>The side-arming right-hander has been a long man, a setup man, a situational reliever asked to come in and retire just one batter and even a closer as he was in the ACC final while compiling a 2-1 record with two saves, 36 strikeouts and a 3.50 earned run average in more than 42 innings.</p><p>However he's used, Kelley said he likes his team's chances despite a less-than-dominant performance thus far in the postseason.</p><p>“It comes down to character,” he said. “We've got each other's backs and never back down from anyone. We'll stay in every pitch it until the last inning, the last out. I feel like the regionals and super regional kind of woke us up and our best is yet to come.”</p><p>One thing UNC won't have to worry about is facing an unfamiliar opponent in its opener. The Tar Heels will take on rival N.C. State Sunday at 3 p.m. </p><p>“Playing N.C. State puts us ahead of the game, because we don't have to do any scouting on them,” Kelley said. “We're going in there with confidence, having beaten them two times already this year.”</p><p>One of those wins, however, was an 18-innning marathon in what turned out to be the ACC tournament semifinal. A week later, the Tar Heels also had to survive a 13-inning test against Florida Atlantic just to get out of the regionals.</p><p>That game became necessary after Kelley allowed a decisive three-run homer to the Owls' Ricky Santiago.</p><p>As disappointing as that was, it was only a temporary setback for both UNC and a resilient reliever looking forward to getting the ball again in a big situation.</p><p>“I'm locked in and very confident right now,” Kelley said. “Against FAU, I hung one. But I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen in Omaha.”</p>